Vari-table



VARI-TABLE Filed Dec. 27, 1960 INVENTOR. LUTHER DELOSS BARNETT United States Patent Gfifice 3,05l,320 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,05l,320 VARI-TABLE Luther De Loss Bar-nett, P.0. Box 426, Parrish, Ala. Filed Dec. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 78,384 4 claims. (cl. 211-178) This invention relates generally to portable furniture, and specifically to a foldable stand for adjustably supporting a plate o-f food.

There are many instances in modern living where it is desired to enjoy meals away from the Conventional table. Such circurnstances are typified by cook-outs, picnics, television snacks and like activities. At the present time there is no suitable type of stand to serve for Supporting plates and the like, with the result that one frequently must resort to the knees as a support for the plate, and the chair arm or floor for your drink. Such hazardous locations tend to detract from the pleasure of eating.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an adjustable and folding stand which may be readily set up to conveniently support a plate of food and drink, thus relieving the hands and body for other activities.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable stand which may be folded into a compact Shape for storage purposes.

lI-t is a still further object of this invention to provide an adjustable stand of the above class which is of light but sturdy construction, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

The invention consists of a cylindrical casing Which is supported by three collapsible legs pivotally depending from a sleeve mounted in a sliding relationship ove-r the casing. An extension tube projects from the upper end of the casing and may be locked at the desired extension by a serrated cam. A circular platform constructed from radially extending wires depending from a ring is mounted within the open end of the extension tube and is adapted to be selectively collapsed for storage inwardly of the tube. A beverage stand is adjustably attached to the tube and may be selectively positioned to form a cap for the open end of the tube.

A full understanding of the construction of this invention, together with further novel features and advantages, -will be had from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stand fully erected for use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional side elevation of the invention shown in the collapsed or folded condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectonal plan view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 represents a cylindrical upstanding casing which is closed at the lower end by a base 6. The casing is open at the upper end 'l and is adapted to slidingly receive an adjustable extension tube 8. The extension tube is adapted to be locked relative to the casing by a serrated cam member 9 which is pivotally mounted between parallel tabs 10 formed at the ends of a band 45 encircling the casing. The cam eugages with the extension tube 8 through a Vertical slot 11 formed through the casing between the spaced tabs lt). The extension tube 8 is closed at its lower end by a plate 12 which is centrally drilled at 48 to slidingly receive a limited stop pin 13. The pin has a head 14 and extends through a hole 48 in the plate to connect with a chain 15 which is suitably anchored by an eye 16 to the base 6. The head of the pin retains the extension tube 8 within safe extension limits relative to the casing.

A sleeve 17 is slidably mounted over the casing 5 and is formed in three similar curved sections 18 which are separated from each other by one end 19 of pivotally supported legs 20. Each section terminates at its ends with radially extending tabs 21 which are suitably drilled to receive rivets 22 pivotally mounting the legs Ztl* in a Vertical plane. The legs 20 are formed of strip metal and have a chamfered end 23 which is adapted to engage with the casing 5 restricting the angular displacement of the leg relative to the casing. The leg is twisted at 24, changing the plane of the strip from Vertical to horizontal, and extends to terminate With an outwardly curved foot 25. Holes 26 are drilled through each foot to enable staking the stand to the ground when used out of doors on unlevel terrain. One of the curved sections 18 is provided with a bayonet type slot 27 which opens into the lower edge of the section and is adapted to engage in a releasable locking manner with a pin 23 which is removably supported in the holes 26 formed through a lower portion of one leg Zt). The pin is removable and is secured by a short length of chain 29 which terminates on the respective one of the legs. FIG. 1, shows the pin being used as a stake through one of the foot holes 26. It will be appreciated from inspection of the drawings that the sleeve 17 is locked at the bottom of the casing when erected and is drawn upwardly as shown in FIG. 2, when it is desired to fold the legs adjacent the casing for storage purposes.

The upper end of the extension tube 8 is open and slidably receives a circular ring 30` which is restricted from passing outwardly through the open end and is limited inwardly of the tube by an inwardly extending stop 31. The ring 30 pivotally mounts a series of arms 32 equally spaced around the ring. Inwardly turned finger guides 46 at the top of the casing overlie the ring St) and retain it within the casing. The arms 32 have terminating loops 33 which engage about the ring in an outwardly extending manner so that the arms may rotate outwardly of the Opening between the finger guides 46 to stop and form a horizontal circular platform as shown in FIG. 1. The outwardly terminating ends of the arms are formed in an upwardly turned manner and may be capped with suitable friction caps 34 adapted to frictionally prevent articles such as a plate from slipping when in contact therewith. FIG. 2, shows the arms in a folded condition received in a Vertical manner around the inner periphery of the extension tube.

A circular band 35 slidably engages with the extensionVV tube and has two outwardly extending tabs 36 adapted to pivotally receive a link 37 on a pivot 47. The link is adapted for Vertical pivotal movement and is restricted from traversing the horizontal plane by a stop 38 which frictionally abuts with the tube 8. The other end of the link is pivotally mounted to a container rim 39 which is provided with downwardly extending and diametrically secured U shaped strips 43 around the periphery which combine to form a closed bottom container 44). The container is pivotally mounted by a rivet or pin 42 so that it may be located over the extension tube 8 to form a cap therefor, and provide a compact storage location when not in use. The container may also be adjusted in elevation as desired by sliding the band 35 vertically of the extension tube 8.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, Operation and advantages of this invention will be fully apparent. However, since numerous modifications will oecur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the construction exactly to that shown and described, and accordingly, modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable folding stand comprising, in combination, a casing, collapsible legs depending from the lower end of the casing, an extension tube slidably rcceived within the casing and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom in an adjustable m-anner a serrated cam member pivotally mounted to the casing for selectively locking the tube With respect tothe casing by frictional engagement therewith, a platform comprising a series of radially .extcnding Wires pivotally supported on a ring slidablyreceived within the extension tube, said radially extending wires adapted to be'selectively stored in the tube, a container spaced lradially of the extension by a link pivotally extending from a bandl slidably mounted on the tube, said container adapted to be selectively engaged over the top of the `extension tube to provide a cap therefor.

2. An adjustable'efoldingstand comprising, a cylndrcal casing, collapsible legsv vdepending from the lower endof the casing, lan extenson tube slidably received within 7the casing and extending outvvardlyl of the upper end thereof, means for locking the tube relative to the casing platform means comprising a series of radially extending Wires disposed concentric-ally on top of the tube .and adapted to be collapsed inwardly of the tube, a

i 4. An adjustable foldng stand according to claim 1v Wherein said container is formed by a rim having diarnetrically depending U shaped strips, said container adapted to be supported 'in ran upstanding manner to retain a beverage glass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,199,770 Elphinstone Oct. 3, 1916 1,394,596 Wohl Oct. 25, 1921 2,591l244 Du Mais Apr. 1, 1952 '2,642247 Bode June 16, 1953 2,784,f848 Senne Mar. 12, 1957 

